Thurston County Chamber 2023-2024 Annual Report

Dear Members,

Welcome to the 2023/2024 Annual Report—a testament to our journey of progress, resilience, and community strength. For 150 years, the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce has been at the forefront of shaping our region’s prosperity, and this year is no exception.

Our dedication to fostering a vibrant business environment has always remained strong. We understand that true prosperity extends beyond economic indicators—it’s about creating a community where every piece of the puzzle fits together seamlessly.

Over the past fiscal year, our Advocacy team, with your support, has achieved remarkable milestones. Through the Shared Legislative Agenda, our region secured $2 million from the State legislature for pocket gopher habitat conservation in Tumwater, a triumph years in the making. Recognizing the challenges of government with less representation, the Chamber advocacy, driven by your voices, pushed for efforts that led to the expansion of the Port and County Commissions to five districts, ensuring greater representation and modernization of our governance.

The Regional Future of Work Summit in 2023 was a

In 2024, Leadership Thurston County proudly welcomed its 30th class, a significant milestone that marks our enduring commitment to cultivating leadership excellence and community engagement. Furthermore, we’re thrilled to announce we’ve launched our Youth LTC program, a testament to our dedication to nurturing future leaders. This program will provide young people with the skills, knowledge, and networks they need to succeed in their future careers and contribute to our community.

Thurston Thrives, our community’s collective impact initiative, around health equity remains steadfast in its mission to address the determinants of health, foster meaningful conversations, and promote health equity. Together, we’re striving to create a healthier, more inclusive community.

Looking ahead, the Thurston County Chamber is filled with excitement to continue championing our members and the greater community. We’ll advocate for policies that foster economic development, provide platforms for connection and growth, and champion the interests of our diverse community, all with the aim of building a brighter future together.

Trenton Fluetsch Board Chair

David Schaffert President & CEO

2023-2024 Financials

Board of Trustees

2023-2024

Trenton Fluetsch Chair Sunset Air, President

Kevin Stormans 2nd Vice Chair Stormans Inc., President

Alexis Alverson TwinStar Credit Union, Business Relationship Manager

Dave Wasson Chair Elect Dancing Goats Coffee, President/CEO

Patricia

Tessa Bradley Artisans Group Architecture and Planning, Principal

Ron Bruchet Bruchet Holdings, Owner

Will Callicoat MultiCare Capital Medical Center, President

De’Leon Brooks Community Member

Michael Cade Thurston Economic Development Council, Executive Director

Patricia Pich Treasurer

L. Pich, CPA, PLLC

Michelle Wickett Past Chair Mason-McDuffie Mortgage, Branch Manager

Joseph Lanham Hampton Lanham Group

Dr. Debra Clemens North Thurston Public Schools, Superintendent

Perry Hanchey Diamond Technology Innovations, President

Kelsey Hulse Strategies 360, Vice President of Government Relations

Darin Goss Providence Swedish, Chief Executive

Nate Peters Saint Martin’s University, Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Todd Monohon Olympic Rental & Landlord Services, Owner & Designated Broker

Michael White Farmers Insurance, Agent/Owner

Bob Iyall Medicine Creek Enterprises Corporation, CEO

David Schaffert Thurston County Chamber, President/CEO

Renee Radcliff Sinclair TVW, CEO

Trenton Fluetsch, Vice Chair Sunset Air, Vice President of Operations

Miguel Pineda Capitol City Press, Project Manager

Ebony Washington Yonic V-Spa, Owner

Makayla Roberson Mak’s Snack Shack, Owner

Staff 2023-2024

David Schaffert President/CEO

Andrew

Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives

Garate

Krystal Barkus-Franco Vice President of Operations

Marianne Judd Member Investment Project Coordinator

Jessica Houchin Operations & Events Coordinator

Mary Ann “Mia” Ong Business Solutions Navigator

Marquita Himes Industry Sector Lead and SSBIPOC

Christina Chesnut Director of Workforce Development

Schelli Slaughter Director, Thurston County Chamber Foundation

Doug Mah Director of Public Policy

Alisha Blain-Warner Director, Leadership Thurston County

Elizabeth Bretschneider Membership & Engagement

Joanne Stimac Finance Officer

Ashley Chandler Membership & Project Coordinator

Josefina Magaña Director, Thurston Thrives

Micah Pong Project Manager

CHAMBER AMBASSADORS

Lori Bodnar Great Wolf Lodge

Elizabeth Cooper Homestreet Bank

Cecilia Felix RE/MAX NW

Kevin Harris PrintNW

Shirley Jones T&S Cleaning

Corey Lopardi Pardiman Productions

McKim Odom 1st Security Bank

Denise Parker Harborstone Credit Union

Tim Shaw ThurstonTalk.com

Evette Temple Bank of the Pacific

Scott Tompkins

John L. Scott Real Estate

Nichole Wachtman

Evergreen Financial Services

Amanda Walker

Movement Mortgage

Rae Toth

REAL Broker, LLC

Becky Carver

Axia Home Loans

Eileen O’Malley

Olympic Moving & Storage

Michael Holden

Comcast Business

Charity Aleff KeyBank

Julia Devaney Devaney Electric

Scan the QR code below or visit our website at thurstonchamber.com/our-chamber/chamber-staff to find the latest Chamber Staff directory!

Dillon Johnson Business Solutions Navigator

Maika Morrow Business Solutions Navigator

Natasha Ashenhurst Marketing & Communications, Contractor

Valerie Tran Business Solutions Navigator

Malinda Johnston Military Program Coordinator

WHAT WE DO

The Public Policy Division of the Thurston Chamber is your leading advocate for business and the private sector across the region.

Supporting our community is at the heart of the Chamber mission. The Chamber advocates for members by addressing community issues, and ensuring a positive environment for a successful, high functioning community.

THE SHARED LEGISLATIVE PARTNERSHIP is convened every year to identify and champion regional investments with the State legislature. These investments maintain and enhance the region’s economic vitality and generate opportunities that enhance the quality of life for residents across the region. New State resources acquired by this work during the 2022 and 2023 legislative session include:

• Port of Olympia Budd Inlet: Remediation and Restoration

• North Thurston Public Schools: Young Child & Family Center

• Craft Brewing and Distilling: Local Grain Conveyance & Storage System

• Carbon Sequestration and Habitat Preservation

• SR 507 Roundabouts and I-5/Nisqually Delta planning

• Board of County Health - Efficiencies

Advocacy

LOCAL ADVOCACY is the core of the public policy division’s work. We inform local policy makers on the impacts new policies and regulations will have on local businesses.

We provide support for meaningful and significant public and private sector projects that will improve the economic health of our community. In 2022 and 2023 the Thurston Chamber has led the way on:

• Greater affordable housing

• West Bay Yards project

• Quiemuth Resort & Village projects

• BAR Holdings (Salish Landing) UGA Landswap

• Local government comprehensive plans

• Public School EP&O and Capital Facilities Levies

• Support for local Congressionally Directed Funds

PARTNERSHIPS By forging strong partnerships with entities that share our values and mission, we’re expanding our voice and influencing change on a larger scale.

We’ve successfully joined forces with organizations, creating a stronger and more united front in advocating for the needs of our community.

• Olympia Downtown Association

• Washington Retail Association

• Challenge Seattle

• Go Rail

• Washington Association of Business Townhalls – Washington in the Making

• Washington Association of Business – Grassroots Alliance

• South Sound Military Communities Partnership - JBLM Economic Impact Study

PUBLIC POLICY is made by those that show up. Government decisions and priorities, rules and regulations, and what gets developed and when, are determined by those that participate. The work of the public policy division ensures that the private sector is involved in the affairs of government. Advocating for Chamber members helps create a better environment for business. This helps to build a more resilient, equitable, and vibrant community for all.

By the Numbers 2023

9,126 Total Services Provided

4,012 Total Businesses Served

124 Total Number of Events

13,138 Total Number of Attendees

112 New Members

36 Ribbon Cuttings

90% Member Retention

Businesses Served

2,476 Services Offered 2,738

Workforce Initiatives

Talent acquisition is only one challenge facing today’s businesses. Upskilling employees to maintain pace with industry changes, talent retention, succession planning and workforce diversity are just a few of many diverse challenges industry leaders face.

Training Program Skills & Certifications Gained:

235

Average Hire Rate Upon Upskill Attainment:

$27.01

Number of Business Hiring Event Attendees:

478

Our workforce development division ensure that, as a region, we are taking care of industry needs, and that businesses have the most competitive workforce for ongoing success. We accomplish this by providing leadership and serving as an essential conduit between the private sector and the public workforce system known as WorkSource.

The Chamber is contracted by Pacific Mountain Workforce Development council to provide business services to the five county region and beyond. Including Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pacific Counties and on specialty project at Joint Base Lewis McChord and Naval Base Kitsap.

Business Services Menu

• Workforce Planning: Recruitment & Retention Strategies

• Targeted Recruitment Assistance

• Labor Market Data & Tax Credits

• Hiring Events

• ACT Job Profiling

• Sector Strategies

• Employer Workshops

• Training for Current and Future Employees

• Connections to Diverse Workforce Pipelines

Bridging the Skills Gap

Assisting Transitioning Military

Funded by private industry through the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, the Chamber operates an internship program in partnership with Joint Base Lewis McChord. The WorkEx program allows eligible active duty transitioning service members to participate in a 4-17 week hands-on-work-based learning opportunity with a host employer to bridge the gap in skills and experience needed to land a full-time career opportunity.

Aviation Pathways is a DoD/Army-approved Career Skills Program that prepares transitioning service members and veterans with at least 18 months prior experience in aircraft mechanics and an FAA-approved 8610-2 to test for their FAA Mechanic Certification. This program is in partnership with PacMtn Workforce Development. Aviation Pathways is a DoD SkillBridge and Army Career Skills Approved program that provides transitioning, retiring, and veteran aircraft mechanics with refresher skills and training over nine weeks to successfully prepare for the FAA Oral and Practical exams.

Internship Accelerators

In 2023, the Future of Work Summit shifted to a regional conference convening business, education and youth to bridge the skills gap in the region by developing an internship pipeline. Organizers are planning the 3rd annual Future of Work Summit on October 9, 2024.

Washington Workforce Portal

We also partnered with Washington Workforce Portal as a cost-effective opportunity to evaluate a potential future employee, a pipeline for candidates, access to students with unique skills and a way to gain short-term talent. For students, it provides hands-on work experience and a chance to explore career options.

Youth & Young Adult Training Initiatives

Launched in 2022, the Olympia Career Hub, in partnership with the City of Olympia, is a free resource for individuals who want to expand their professional skills and knowledge. Construction cohort training and career mapping for youth provide essential skills and opportunities lacking in the region.

Digital Literacy

As we advance into an ever-increasing technological world, the need for digital literacy has become apparent in our community. Digital Literacy measures an individual’s knowledge of computer hardware, computer software and the application of those technologies. In early 2023, the Chamber began offering regional training called Digital Literacy and has classes scheduled at various locations throughout the year. Thanks to Nisqually Indian Tribe for supporting this initiative.

Workforce Impact

Strengthening Communities

Education, Equity & Entrepreneurship

The Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable education foundation, is committed to forging pathways to success for individuals and communities alike.

Centered on education, community leadership, and small business development, the Foundation is dedicated to fostering resilient communities through education, equity and entrepreneurship. Backed by community investment, the Foundation champions eight impactful initiatives aimed at nurturing prosperity.

Chamber Foundation Initiatives

Over 830 Leadership Thurston County graduates from over 325 organizations to date

Had a record year, with 68 participating business locations and 1,100 students learning how local business use math every day

Over $200,000 contributed to directly support scholarships for BIPOC students attending South Puget Sound Community College

Thank You Foundation Board Members

Trenton Fluetsch

Josefina Magaña Doug Mah Malcolm Miller

Denise Parker

Dave Wasson

Michelle Wickett

Collective impact effort to improve health equity for all in our community

Inspired over 600 students and career seeking participants at one day career exploration event

Connecting Thurston County High School Youth to a variety of careers and real-world skills

Successfully graduated two incubator businesses and onboarded three new BIPOC businesses to the Incubator

Providing resources and networking opportunities for 276 SSBIPOC participants

VOICE Magazine

The monthly VOICE Magazine, published by the Thurston Chamber, has a mission to build community, reinforce belonging, foster economic interaction while remaining hyperlocal and business-centric. Scan the covers of the past year, and you’ll see a community focused on resilience and growth.

56,026 IMPRESSIONS 23/24 (12 MONTHS) DIGITAL EDITION MADE

22,000 ISSUES PRINTED CIRCULATEDAND

3,636

Caught in the Lens

Photography by Shanna Paxton

Photography